HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09/30/1996September 30,1996
~/ol. 30 Page 99
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2 MINUTES OF A REGULAR AI)JOiJRN~I) MEETIN
3 PETALIJMA CITY COUNCIL ~~
4 1VIONDAY, SEP'TEM~ER 30,1996 ~~
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7 ROI,I, CALL 7:00 p.m.
8 Present: Maguire, Hamilton, Barlas, Read, Shea, Vice Mayor Stompe, Mayor Hilligoss
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10 PLEDGE OF AI,LEG~ANCE
11 The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chief DeWitt.
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13 MOMENT OF SILENCE
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15 P~JBLIC COIIl~1VIEN'T
16 Bruce Hagen, 145 Grevillia Drive, spoke again with regard to keeping Lafferty Ranch and Moon
17 Ranch separate. He would like the Lafferty Public Use Management Plan Committee selected as
18 soon as possible before the election on November 5.
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20 COiJNCIL COIVIMEN'T
21 Nancy Read, Advised Council that there was an Economic Vitality Conference held recently in
22 Santa Rosa which Assistant City Manager Warren Salmons and Planning Director Pamela Tuft
23 attended. She would like to receive something in writing to see if this would apply to Petaluma.
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25 Mary Stompe, would like to commend Police Officer Bixler for his innovative work with the San
26 Rafael Drive neighborhoods.
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28 Jane Hamilton announced that there will be a public forum on October 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the
29 council chambers with Richard Perry on the selection of a City Manager. There will be another
30 public forum held at Kenilworth Junior High School on another date.
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32 She would also like to thank staff for the response to her question about the sign that is in front
33 of Lafferty Ranch that says "Right to Pass by Permission" and "Subject to Control of Owner."
34 She would like to know the outcome of the conversation with Civil Engineer John Fitzgerald. Is
35 this a way of setting up a legal argument to preclude access? She thinks the public and council
3 6 needs to be aware of the meaning of the sign and implications of it.
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38 During the Fire Department budget hearings there was some discussion with regard to Master
39 1'lanning. She would like this agendized and would like the Fire Chief present.
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41 She would also like to know when the PUC newsletter is going to come back to council. She
42 would like to make sure it goes out in time to give people advance warning that we are
43 establishing a PUC and that they could apply.
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Page 100, Vol. 30
September 30, 1996
Matt Maguire, advised that there would be no closed session regarding lifigation tonight.
Mayor Hilligoss, reported that Washington sent her to Slovakia last week and that she talked to
the elected officials. There will be a write up in the paper. She ha.d a very exciting time.
City Manager John Scharer advised Council that they were alsa invited to attend the meeting
Thursday night with Richard Perry:
RESO. 96-275 NCS
AB 3229 COMPiTTER ASSISTED DISPATCI-I SYSTEIVI
Chief DeWitt reported that AB 3229 allocates money to all cities and counties in the State of
California that is specifically earmarked for public safety. This is a new program called Citizens
Option for Public Safety program (COPS) and provides for supplemental law enforcement
services funding.. It was recommended that these funds which amount to $111,000 be earmarked
to assist in purchasing a cad system for the dispatch center at the Police Department which
provides for police, fire, ambulance and 911 calls.
The hearing was opened.
The hearing was closed.
Introduced by Jane Hamilton, seconded by Matt Maguire.
AYES: Maguire, Hamilton, Barlas, Read, Shea, Vice Mayor Stompe, Mayor Hilligoss
NOES:
ABSENT:
VOTER FRAUD
City Attorney, Richard Rudnansky reviewed his report dated September 26, 1996 with the
Council regarding the State investigation on the voter fraud issue. He briefed the Council on the
chronology of the investigation, reasons for the referral to the State Elections Fraud Division,
alleged Elections Code Violations, and Fair Political Practices Commission statements, criminal
penalties and civil sanctions for violation of the Political Reform Act,
The City Attorney advised that he has been in contact with Mr. Ciaramella of the Secretary of
State's office. The State would work with local agencies if in fact a local investigation were
initiated.
The Secretary of State's office would like to assure the Council and the public that staff and
members of the public have conveyed the sense of urgency on this issue and that the Attorney
General's office was acting accordingly and appropriately.
Anybody having pertinent information regarding this case are urged to contact Mr. Ciaramella.
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The City Attorney has included in his report, copies of letters to the Secretary of State, Fair
Political Practices Commission Enforcement Division, and the County Election Department.
The Council suggested the following revisions to those letters:
~ List the major issues in the letter to the FPPC.
• Send a copy of the FPPC letter to Senator Marks and Assembly Member 1Vlazzoni
~ Send a letter directly to Senator Marks and Assembly Member Mazzoni asking for their
assistance.
• Send a copy of the letter to Ric Ciaramella to Bill Jones, Secretary of State.
~ Send a letter to the County Eelction Department requesting that they continue the verification
of signatures on the two petitions.
~ Add a phrase in each letter stating "Please keep us informed on status and results of the
investigation to the fullest extent possible. I will contact your office periodically for that
purpose."
CIT~' ATTORNEY OPINION
Si7PPORT/OPPOSI'I'ION OF STATE PROPOSI'TIONS
The City Attorney advised Council that they could support Proposition 217, but as a Council
they could not expend any moneys or provide any informational material. This would be the
same for any State Proposition.
~SO. 96-876 NCS
S'I'A'I'E PROPOSITION 217
Proposition 217 maintains the California State Income Tax bracket in the top 1 percent of the
population. The value of this proposition will keep that tax in place, but it prevents the state
from taking away more money from cities.
Resolution 96-276 NCS was introduced by Matt Maguire to endorse Proposition 217, seconded
by Jane Hamilton.
AYES: Magnire, Hamilton, Barlas, Read, Shea, V ice Mayor Stompe, Mayor Hilligoss
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RESO. 96-277 NCS
~STA~LIS~I LAFFER'I'Y RANCH PUBLIC USE 1VIANAGEM~NT PI,AN COMMI'TTEE
ANI) DEFINING MISSION STATEMENT
A Motion was made by Matt Nlaguire, and seconded by Jane Hamilton to leave the third
Whereas in the Resolution, add "Whereas, the Public has clearly demonstrated its desire to
keep and have access to Lafferty". Revise the fourth Whereas to read Whereas, the City
Council has deteranined that preparation of said plan should be the responsibility of a
~~+~~se~ committee". Page 2 remove the sentence "
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Page 102, Vol. 30 September 30, 1996
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.,..,... ...,. ..i. ut.l,:.~ ... ~ :,uy.viiivi
~„ ;'. "a "'.:° °u -~ '°m°„+°a'~~, *'~° r:*• page 2 Line 33 add after Lafferty Ranch
property, with it's primary purpose being to establish public access for re commendation to
the City Council. Start a new last sentence with "The Committee shall, within 60 days of
formation, provide the City Council with a proposed time line/work scope."
AYES: Maguire, Hamilton, Barlas, Shea, Vice Mayor Stompe
NOES:_Read, Mayor Hilligoss
ABSENT: None
VICE MAYOR
Councilmember Hamilton - would like a policy that states the Vice Mayor is appointed in
January since Council terms run from the beginning of January. She would like a simple rotation
that goes according to seniarity, and that nobody serves twice before everybody has served once.
To determine the seniority of three new Councilmembers would be accarding to the votes
received at the time of the election.
Councilmember Shea is in agreement with January -January. She would like it stated that if your
appointed Vice Mayor and you deny that appointment, you go back to the bottom of the rotation
list.
Councilmember Read would like the Vice Mayor to remain an elected position. She would also
like it to remain where you can elect a Councilmember to serve his/her last year as Vice Mayor if
so elected.
Councilmember Maguire agrees with January -January, and simple rotation by seniority.
Vice 1Vlayor Stompe agrees with January -January. If you deny the turn you need to go to the
bottom of the seniority list.
Councilmember Barlas agrees with January - January by rotation.
The legislation will be brought back with the revisions to the Cowicil Rules of Procedures.
LIAISON
Councilmember ~-Iamilton would like the Liaison appointments made in January also. She would,
like each newly elected and existing Councilmember to submit to the Mayor their schedule of
when they would be able to serve on commission/committees that have set meeting days. The
Mayor would then have the information so that the appointment:; can be made when people are
available, and the Councilmembers would have advance warning in order to set their schedules
accordingly.
Councilmember Read does not agree. She believes the Liaison appointments belong with the
discretion of the Mayor and CounciT should honor her commitment.
Councilmember Maguire concurs with Councilmember Hamilton.
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September 30,1996 Vol. 30 Page 103
1 Councilmember Barlas feels the Mayor can lay out the appointments and then check with each
2 Councilmember. Therefore, if there is a conflict she can rearrange the appointments.
3
4 Mayor Hilligoss is in agreement with changing the appointments from January -January.
5
6 Vice Mayor Stompe is in agreement with changing to January -January and then each
7 December/January the Council submits to the Mayor a list of requests so that she has the
8 information when making the appointments.
9
10 3 P.1VI.IVIEETINGS
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12 The Council could not reach an agreement to end the 3:00 p.m. council meetings and dinners.
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14 ANNiJAI, Z'ItAINING
15 Councilmember Hamilton is recommending that Councilmembers be required to avail
16 themselves of training sessions at least once a year that would improve the complex skills needed
17 to perform as a Councilmember. Staff should bring options to the council in January at the same
18 time they are setting themselves up far the year. The council could then make a choice of what
19 they would like to participate in and set a date.
20
21 R~SO. 96-278 NCS
22 TOLL ~IIG~I OCCUPANCY LANE S'I'IJl)Y
23 Resolution 96-278 NCS supporting the Toll High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Study to be
24 conducted by the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. Introduced by Nancy Read,
25 seconded by Matt Maguire.
26 AYES: Maguire, Hamilton, Read, Shea, Vice Mayor Stompe, Mayor Hilligoss
27 NOES: None
28 ABSENT: Barlas
29
30 VOLUNTAR~ CONTRI~UTION
31 COlVIPUTER ASSIS'TED DISPA'TC~I SYS'TElVi
32 A Motion was made by Vice Mayor Stompe to print on the water bills a donation line titled
33 "I)ispatch System Donation". This will be given a six month trial period with a report back to
34 the Council on the success and any impact on staff. This could also be advertised in the Park and
35 Recreation brochure or by any other means as to not impact staff or that is costly. Seconded by
36 Matt Maguire.
37 AYES: Maguire, Hamilton, Barlas, Read, Shea, Vice Mayor Stompe, Mayor Hilligoss
3 8 NOES: None
39 ABSENT: None
40
41 SIS'Y'ER CITY
42 Councilmember Stompe wants to celebrate the diversity in Petaluma. The highest percentage of
43 diversity other than white is Hispanic. She believes they are a very important part of Petaluma
44 and suggests looking at adopting a Sister City that could share with us some valuable
45 information as well as us sharing with them. She is considering asking the City of Zihuatenao as
46 Petaluma's Sister City which is about 150 miles north of Acapulco in Mexico.
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September 30, 1996
Councilmember Read suggested that Vice Mayor Stompe get in touch with the Board of
Director's of Sister City's International.
Mayor Hilligoss congratulated John Scharer on his fifteen years as City Manager.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
5 ATTEST:
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Paulette Lyon, Deputy Ci Clerk
M. Patricia Hilligoss,
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